• Bridget Candy, Stephanie J C Taylor, Jean Ramsay, Glenda Esmond, Chris J Griffiths, and Rosamund M Bryar.
• Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson's Institute of Preventative Medicine, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 4NS, UK. b.candy@qmul.ac.uk
• Int J Nurs Stud. 2007 May 1; 44 (4): 601-10.

Study BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth leading cause of mortality worldwide and is a burden on healthcare resources. Therefore, implementing the right care model(s) for patients with COPD is a priority. Nurses, particularly those with specialist roles, are often the principal health professionals involved in new service models.New Servicesfor patients in the community with COPD are increasing in many countries. Two main types of initiatives have been evaluated; those designed to transfer acute care out of hospital and into the community, and those offering chronic disease management. The extent and nature of such specialist services in the UK and internationally are unknown.ObjectivesTo present the results of the first survey of specialist nurse service provision for patients in the community with COPD in England and Wales. To combine the survey findings with systematic review evidence to explore to what extent provision is supported by evidence of effectiveness.MethodsA postal survey of respiratory healthcare professionals undertaken concurrently with a review of the evidence of the effectiveness of nurse COPD services (review findings are reported fully elsewhere).ResultsTwo hundred and thirty four specialist nurse services were identified; 71% involved chronic disease management, of which 47% also provided acute care. Seventeen per cent of services involved acute care only. The review identified evidence to support the provision of acute services but data on chronic disease management services are sparse and there is currently little evidence to support these services. Those interventions that have been evaluated to date differed from many of the services provided.ConclusionsThis study identifies a considerable mismatch between existing evidence around effectiveness and services provision for patients with COPD. It clearly highlights the need for greater interaction between what happens in practice and research. This is an issue that has relevance across all healthcare practice, both nationally and internationally.

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